What sonographic sign is associated with cholecystitis?

Gallbladder wall thickening is a significant sonographic sign associated with cholecystitis. In cases of cholecystitis, which is the inflammation of the gallbladder, the wall becomes edematous due to inflammatory processes. This thickening is typically greater than 3 millimeters and can reflect the severity of the inflammation.

The increase in wall thickness is due to various factors such as increased vascularity, edema, and exudate formation, all of which are common in inflammatory conditions. Therefore, when evaluating a patient for cholecystitis using ultrasound, identifying thickened gallbladder walls is crucial for diagnosis.

In contrast, other options may not accurately reflect the pathophysiological changes seen in cholecystitis. For instance, a hypotonic gallbladder (which may suggest a lack of contraction) and a normal gallbladder size could indicate that gallbladder function is compromised without necessarily denoting inflammation. Gallbladder shadowing, which can occur due to gallstones, does not directly correlate with the presence of cholecystitis itself but rather with potential complications or associated findings. Thus, gallbladder wall thickening serves as a more definitive indicator of cholecyst